There is always a first time for everything, and this week I experienced something that I had been thinking about for quite a while: ordering live aquarium animals from another country.
To be honest, I was nervous.
I’ve ordered many things online over the years, but live animals are completely different. Fish, shrimp, crabs and snails are not ordinary parcels. They depend on careful packing, fast transportation and a little bit of luck. When I finally decided to place my first international order, I hoped everything would go well—but I couldn’t stop wondering what condition the animals would be in when they finally arrived.
After spending quite a bit of time looking for a reliable supplier, I decided to order from Rendo-Shrimp, a German specialist in freshwater shrimp and other aquarium livestock. Their selection was impressive, and it quickly became obvious that aquarium enthusiasts from all over Europe use them regularly.
If you’re interested in their selection, you can visit their website here:
The order was shipped from Germany to Finland using UPS, and this is where the story became even more impressive.
From the moment the package was dispatched until it reached my doorstep, it took only one day.
Considering that the box contained living animals travelling across Europe, I honestly couldn’t have asked for a faster delivery. Throughout the journey I found myself checking the tracking information far more often than I probably should have. Every update brought a little more confidence that the shipment was making good progress.
When the parcel finally arrived, I opened it immediately.
Everything had been packed with great care. The bags were secure, the animals were well protected, and it was immediately clear that considerable thought had gone into preparing the shipment for international transport.
The most important question, of course, was how the animals were doing.
I’m very happy to say that almost every single one arrived safely.
Only one shrimp had unfortunately perished during the journey. While it’s always disappointing to lose any living creature, considering the distance travelled and the complexity of transporting aquatic animals, I felt incredibly grateful that the rest of the shipment arrived healthy and active.
Watching the shrimp, fish, crabs and snails settle into their new home was surprisingly rewarding. Even after just a short acclimation period, many of them began exploring the aquarium almost immediately. That was the moment when all the worrying simply disappeared.
The whole experience also reminded me how much planning goes into keeping an aquarium successfully. Before placing the order, I had spent weeks preparing the tank, making sure the water parameters were stable, the plants were growing well and there were plenty of hiding places for the new arrivals. Looking back now, all that preparation was absolutely worthwhile.
One thing I particularly appreciated was how smoothly the logistics worked. International shipping often sounds complicated, but in this case everything happened exactly as promised. The package moved quickly, the tracking was clear, and the delivery arrived exactly when expected.
As someone placing an international livestock order for the very first time, I couldn’t really have hoped for a better experience.
This certainly won’t be my last order from Germany. Knowing that careful packaging, professional handling and rapid transport can make such a difference gives me much more confidence about purchasing aquarium livestock in the future.
Keeping an aquarium has become much more than simply owning fish. It has turned into a fascinating hobby where every new plant, shrimp, crab or snail adds something unique to the underwater world. Every new arrival changes the aquarium in subtle ways, and discovering those little differences is part of what makes the hobby so enjoyable.
This first international order was a success, and I’m genuinely thankful that everything went so well. Sometimes taking that first step feels like the hardest part, but once it’s behind you, a whole new world opens up.
If you’ve been wondering whether ordering aquarium livestock from abroad is possible, my experience has certainly been a positive one. As always, careful preparation of the aquarium, patience during acclimation and choosing a reputable supplier are essential—but when everything comes together, welcoming healthy new inhabitants into your aquarium is an incredibly satisfying feeling.
PI have a feeling this is only the beginning of many more adventures here at Little Pond in the North.
Little pond in the north 
Leave a comment